What does and doesn’t make a rivalry

November 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

fsumia

Ayn Rand once said, “Indifference, not hatred is the opposite of love.”

Remember that quote the next time you voice hatred for your rival team. Red Sox fans hate the Yankees, but they desperately need the Yankees in the same way the Jedi needed the Sith. Rivalry unifies and defines. And it starts early.

In a Boston sports memorabilia shop, I once overheard two seven-year old Massachusetts girls fight each other with taunts of ‘Yankee fan! Yankee Fan;’ they also slapped one another across the face with pinstriped clothing. But in all rivalries, the loser is the side exhibiting more hatred, anger, and fear for its opponent.Think of “Sibling Rivalries;” the same exact principle applies in sports rivalries.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Basketball, College Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 College Football and Basketball Rivalries

November 11, 2013 By 1 Comment

ohio-state_michigan

College football season begins tomorrow night! The first full slate of full games follows two days later. In the spirit of the season, we present the ten best rivalries in the game, and give you the corresponding date to circle on your calendar.

This is a football centric list, but we have the best college basketball rivalries on here as well.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Basketball, College Football, Michigan Wolverines, Notre Dame, Purdue Boilermakers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Bears Full Offseason Recap Part 3: NFL Draft

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Draft

Drafting a player with high potential is a lot like owning a pet tiger. Let me explain.

Part 1: Coaching Staff

Part 2: Free Agency [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chicago Bears Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Notre Dame loses #1 recruiting class ranking to Florida, as star LB switches schools

January 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

notre-dame

Just days after being embarrassed on national television by the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish suffered another loss. No, not coach Brian Kelly who had a very well publicized interview just hours after losing in the national title game, and just days after saying ND is his dream job, with the Philadelphia Eagles. Although that loss may or may not be coming soon, the defection of four star linebacker Alex Anzalone is already here.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Football, Notre Dame Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#9 Florida Gators: College Basketball 111 in 111

November 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

florida gator cheerleaders

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series.  Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days.  Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order.  We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

The Florida Gators season tipped off Friday evening… sorta.  Their much anticipated aircraft carrier game versus Georgetown was cancelled after the first half due to condensation on the court.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#9 Florida Gators: College Football 77 in 77

August 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

florida-gators

Welcome to The Sports Bank 77 in 77. We’re previewing one team a day everyday as the college football season approaches. And we’re doing it in rapid fire sequence. Today, the Florida Gators

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Indianapolis Colts 2012 NFL Draft preview: Andrew Luck, then what?

April 26, 2012 By 3 Comments

New Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grigson made official Tuesday what we all pretty much knew back in January: the franchise will select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in today’s NFL Draft.

Luck is billed as the most pro-ready quarterback prospect to enter the league since Peyton Manning, the man he’s succeeding in Indianapolis. Some would go even further back and call Luck the surest thing since fellow Stanford great John Elway.

While I personally think such opinions are a bit overkill, I do think very highly of Luck, and I believe he can be the Colts’ next franchise signal-caller for many years to come. Given the recent organizational overhaul in Indy, however, quarterback is far from this team’s only thin spot. The Colts could use talent upgrades everywhere.

The fun, analytically speaking, starts with the No. 34 pick.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: NFL, NFL Draft Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#3 Marquette vs. #7 Florida: everything you need to know

March 22, 2012 By 1 Comment

jae crowder marquette

For the second straight season, Marquette has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  While last year’s run was somewhat unexpected as an 11 seed, this year’s Golden Eagles were expected to do some damage as the third seed in the West Regional.  Thursday evening in Albuquerque, Buzz Williams‘ team will match up with Billy Donovan and the seventh seeded Florida Gators with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Kansas Coach: Charlie Weis and his pooch are back baby!!

December 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

charlie_weis

He is back. The pooch and his schematic advantage will once again be the top dog while trolling, or more accurately, standing on the sideline.

The Kansas University Jayhawks have tapped Charlie Weis as the man to replace Turner Gill and revitalize the football program in Lawrence.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Football, Notre Dame Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#11 Florida Gators: College Basketball 111 in 111

November 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

florida gator cheerleaders

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s second annual college basketball season preview series.  Last year we looked at 99 teams in 99 days.  This year, we are being slightly more aggressive and expanding to 111 teams in 111 days.  We will rank the 74 power conference teams and top 37 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order.  We’ll break down rosters, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

Led by one of the deepest backcourts in the country, the Florida Gators will once again be in the SEC title hunt.  For Billy Donovan to get his team back on top of the mountain though, they will have to find a way to replace the production from their veteran frontcourt.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tigers Bulldoze Shorthanded Gators Behind Big Offensive Effort

October 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Spencer Ware rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and Reuben Randall had four catches for 127 yards and a touchdown in the LSU Tigers’ 41-11 thrashing of the Florida Gators in Death Valley. The LSU defense stood strong as well, only allowing 213 yards to the Gators’ attack, and they also forced two turnovers in the contest.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

#1 LSU Tigers vs. #17 Florida Gators: Brutally Honest Game Preview

October 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

florida gator cheerleaders

Is there a national championship party in the cards for the Mad Hatter? The LSU Tigers are atop the poll for a second straight week after destroying Kentucky 35-7. QB Justin Jefferson, you remember him? The athlete who pummeled a guy in the parking lot of a bar called Shady’s, (this stuff just writes itself) made his season debut last Saturday after being suspended for the first four following his felony battery charges.

A grand jury reduced it to a misdemeanor last Wednesday, leading Les Miles to reinstate Jefferson as a backup to Jarrett Lee. Jefferson is looking to get more involved in the offense this week, and Miles may acquiesce. For the record, I still think  Jefferson sucks at football, sucks more at life, and the Alabama Crimson Tide is the true #1 team in the nation.

I said all these things in August, and I believe them even more strongly now.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page »